In the name of the most merciful GOD. Praise be unto GOD, the creator of heaven and earth; who maketh the angels _his_ messengers, furnished with two, and three, and four _pair_ of wings: GOD maketh what addition he pleaseth unto _his_ creatures; for GOD _is_ almighty. The mercy which GOD shall freely bestow on mankind, _there is_ none who can withhold; and what he shall withhold, _there is_ none who can bestow, besides him: and he _is_ the mighty, the wise. O men, remember the favor of GOD towards you: is there any creator, besides GOD, who provideth food for you from heaven and earth? _There is_ no GOD but he: how therefore are ye turned aside _from acknowledging his unity?_ If they accuse thee of imposture, apostles before thee have also been accused of imposture; and unto GOD shall _all_ things return. O men, verily the promise of GOD is true: let not therefore the present life deceive you, neither let the deceiver deceive you concerning GOD: for Satan _is_ an enemy unto you; wherefore hold him for an enemy: he only inviteth his confederates to be the inhabitants of hell. For those who believe not _there is prepared_ a severe torment: but for those who shall believe and do that which is right, _is prepared_ mercy and a great reward. Shall he therefore for whom his evil work hath been prepared, and who imagineth it to be good, _be as he who is rightly disposed, and discerneth the truth_? Verily GOD will cause to err whom he pleaseth, and will direct whom he pleaseth. Let not thy soul therefore be spent in sighs for their sakes, _on account of their obstinacy_; for GOD well knoweth that which they do. _It is God_ who sendeth the winds, and raiseth a cloud: and we drive the same unto a dead country, and thereby quicken the earth after it hath been dead; so _shall_ the resurrection _be_. Whoever desireth excellence; unto GOD _doth_ all excellence _belong_: unto him ascendeth the good speech; and the righteous work will he exalt. But as for them who devise wicked _plots_, they shall suffer a severe punishment; and the device of those _men_ shall be rendered vain. GOD created you _first_ of the dust, and afterwards of seed: and he hath made you man and wife. No female conceiveth, or bringeth forth, but with his knowledge. Nor is any thing added unto the age of him whose life is prolonged, neither is any thing diminished from his age, but _the same is written_ in the book _of God's decrees_. Verily this is easy with GOD. The two seas are not to be held in comparison: this _is_ fresh _and_ sweet, pleasant to drink; but that _is_ salt _and_ bitter: yet out of each of them ye eat fish, and take ornaments for you to wear. Thou seest the ships also ploughing _the waves_ thereof, that ye may seek _to enrich yourselves by commerce_, of the abundance _of God_: peradventure ye will be thankful. He causeth the night to succeed the day, and he causeth the day to succeed the night; and he obligeth the sun and the